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Key Points "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" returns to theaters for its 25th anniversary in December 2025. The film expanded Dr. Seuss' book with a deeper Grinch backstory and Whoville scenes. Fans expressed excitement online, calling it a "classic" and the "Best Christmas movie of all time!!!" Halloween may be just days away, but for Christmas lovers, a delightful surprise is on the way. Making the holiday season a little more merry, iconic film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, starring Jim Carrey, is heading back to theaters in celebration of its milestone 25th anniversary. The theatrical re-release of the Oscar-winning holiday classic includes a brand-new trailer for the celebratory anniversary. It hits select locations on Dec. 12, 2025, for a limited time. Fans on social media reacted enthusiastically, with one commenting, “BUT WHAT SHOULD I WEAR!” on an Instagram post announcing the news. Another dubbed it the “Best Christmas movie of all time!!!” while a third proclaimed, “thank GOD !” In a separate social media user’s opinion, it’s a “Classic movie !!! Top 5 movie for Christmas.” “Well that’s better to hear than an official and unacceptable sequel,” yet another quipped. Meanwhile, someone else joked, “How dare you age me .. 25. YEARS .. ?!! 😂🤣” From Page to Picture: The Book The story began in 1957 when author and illustrator Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel) released How the Grinch Stole Christmas! In it, the creature known as the Grinch lives isolated on Mount Crumpit, looking down on the cheerful Whos of Whoville, and declares war on their Christmas merriment. He steals their gifts, trees, and feasts—but the Whos awaken the next morning, still singing joyfully, which leads the Grinch’s heart to grow “three sizes” after realizing that Christmas isn’t something that can be stolen. The heartwarming story quickly became an annual tradition. Related: Timeless Classic Book Inspires Cheerful New Limited-Edition Tumblers Collection 56 Years After Its Release Small-Screen Classic: The 1966 Animated Special In 1966, the story jumped to television as an animated special titled How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, directed by Chuck Jones, with the iconic voice-narrator Boris Karloff playing the titular character. This version largely followed the book’s storyline, including the Grinch’s sleigh ride, the theft of the presents, and the eventual transformation. It introduced two key elements that became part of popular Grinch lore: The song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” (sung by Thurl Ravenscroft) and the Grinch’s green coloring and his mountain-hideout environment, which, while not in the original book illustrations, became visually iconic. Related: Iconic Fan-Favorite ’80s Film Heads Back to Theaters for Milestone 40th Anniversary Big-Screen Expansion: The 2000 Live-Action Film On Nov. 17, 2000, the feature-length live-action film How the Grinch Stole Christmas (directed by Ron Howard) hit theatres. The cast also includes Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, and Molly Shannon. The adaptation took the 1957 children’s book and built out a larger world: more backstory for the Grinch, more scenes of Whoville life, and more emotional arc for supporting characters such as Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen‘s breakout role). It was the first time a Dr. Seuss book was adapted into a full-length live-action film. Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now. View directly on Instagram 25th Anniversary Celebration The decision to bring the 2000 film back to theatres this December is no coincidence—it marks 25 years since the original theatrical release. For many families, it’s an opportunity to introduce a new generation to the story, while giving grown-ups a chance to relive a childhood or parenting favorite. Pre-sale tickets are available online now.
